Assessment of cobalt mining activity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia

Keywords: Artisanal and small-scale mining, geomorphology, cobalt, GIS, critical minerals, land use
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 37

Abstract

Cobalt, designated a critical mineral by the European Union and the United States, is a crucial component of lithium-ion batteries, found in cell phones, electric vehicles, and personal computing devices. Much remains unknown about the global cobalt supply chain, a large part of which originates in central Africa. Over half of the world’s cobalt supply is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where cobalt is mined in both large-scale and artisanal or small-scale operations. Our study focuses on Africa’s mineral-rich Copperbelt region, an area mined for both copper and cobalt that extends south across the DRC boundary and into neighboring Zambia. An evaluation of existing geoscientific data – through geologic and geomorphologic mapping and modelling – will be paired with fieldwork and remote sensing techniques, including very-high-resolution satellite imagery interpretation. We seek to build a comprehensive understanding of cobalt deposit locations and extent, ore grade, mining technique (large- or artisanal/small-scale), and supply pathways. Supply chain analysis, in particular, will shine a light on the licit/illicit entry of artisanally-mined cobalt into the legal supply chain, determine smelter locations, and identify key players in the region’s cobalt trade.

This paper will present preliminary findings and identify additional areas of research in the compilation of foundational information on the Congolese and Zambian cobalt extractive and supply ecosystems.